What Your Back Pain Could Really Mean

Back pain is incredibly common with an estimated 31 million Americans suffering from lower back pain at any given time. Pulled muscles and over exertion cause most cases of upper, or lower back pain. These are usually entirely harmless and can be fixed with rest or pain relief medication. However, sometimes back pain is, in fact, a symptom of an underlying condition. These are some of the most common, less obvious causes of back pain.

Image via Milius007

Infection

Sometimes, lower back pain is a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection. Kidney and bladder infections, in particular, can lead to back pain if left untreated. If an infection causes it, your pain will be consistent and unaffected by your movements. Whereas muscle pain is often worse in certain positions or when moving around. You will also have other symptoms of infection which can include a fever, other muscle pain, sweats, swelling, and nausea.

Infections like these can come out of nowhere and develop rapidly so it’s imperative that you keep your health insurance up to date. Click here to find out more about health insurance and if you do have any symptoms of infection, see your doctor straight away, as it’s unlikely to get better on its own.

Slipped Disc

The bones in your spine are cushioned by discs, which protect them by absorbing the shockwaves from your movements. Every one of these cushioning discs is made of two parts. The inner disc, which is soft and the harder outer ring. A slipped disc is what we call it when the inner disc protrudes through the outer ring. This is usually due to injury or weakness of the spine and is much more common in older adults.

A slipped disc will cause back pain, but other symptoms can include, numbness, pain in the arms and legs, pains that are worse in the evening and at night, difficulty walking even short distances, weakness, and a burning sensation.

This condition can get better on its own, but it can also get much worse if left untreated and can even lead to permanent nerve damage. So, it’s important to get it diagnosed and treated as soon as you can.

Image via osteoclinic

Stress

Stress can cause a huge range of different symptoms. One of these is back and shoulder pain. When you are stressed out, and under pressure, you often carry a lot of tension in your upper back and shoulders and can feel like you are literally carrying a weight. If stress is the cause of your back pain, a massage can help, but long term it’s a good idea to find ways to manage your stress before it leads to physical symptoms.

Back pain should never be ignored, especially if you don’t know the cause. Many people incorrectly assume that aches and pains are a natural part of getting older and something that they have to live with. But, these pains are often a symptom of an underlying condition which needs treatment. And, even if they aren’t, a visit to your GP can help you to find pain management techniques which work for you. Don’t live your life in discomfort, do something about it.